Cutting a Slice of the Delivery Pie

Article excerpt

That's why demand may continue to grow for restaurant delivery
services for those who are too busy and tired to either cook or go
to
a restaurant, but want something better than what comes out of the
microwave.

Because of the large market for food delivery services, Gary
Colvin, owner of Dining Express Delivery, believes there is plenty
of
room for him among several other local competitors. And the first
month has shown signs of hope.
"I developed a business plan that we're following and so far we're
definitely ahead of the plan," notes Colvin. "Oklahoma City has been
a really good city to break into. They've embraced us. The
corporate community has been really open."
Colvin, who began operations March 16, says his primary market is
local businesses. For instance, he has delivered a number of meals
in the last month to accountants who were too busy to leave their
offices during tax season, as well as emergency room workers with
short breaks who are tired of hospital food. Another major market is
people staying in local hotels.
Colvin's operations is a branch of a company which has operated in
Tulsa for the last seven years. Colvin owns the Oklahoma City
operations, but pays a monthly fee to receive support from the Tulsa
headquarters and use the company name and logo. He characterized the
relationship as more of a "sister company" relationship than a
franchise, noting Dining Express Delivery's dominance in the Tulsa
food delivery business helped give Colvin a head start in this
market.
The company provides deliveries for nine local restaurants --
including Chinese food from Grand House, Italian from Romano's
Macaroni Grill, Mexican from Chelinos and El Chico's, and other
varied cuisines from Bricktown Brewery, Chili's, Johnnie's Charcoal
Broiler, Leo's Barbecue and Varsity.
Colvin receives $3.95 per delivery from customers regardless of
order size. Customers can pay their bills by cash, credit cards or
corporate accounts -- of which Colvin has already set up several. He
also charges a fee to the restaurants, although Colvin would not
discuss the amount. However, the fees from customers and restaurants
are enough to add up to more than $100,000 in revenues per month in
Tulsa, according to Colvin -- a sum he believes is achievable here
within the next 12 to 18 months. …